Vanessa Smye

Biography

Vanessa joined The Elders Foundation in April 2019 and establishes relationships with the loyal and generous donors who support The Elders’ work. Vanessa is constantly excited by the possibilities for philanthropy to achieve sustainable change when it supports advocacy at national and international levels. Vanessa has worked with philanthropists for over 15 years developing effective methods of giving, advising on philanthropy strategies and ensuring the delivery of goals against funding objectives. Vanessa believes in the power of collaborative philanthropy and is motivated by the desire to create positive change with people who are inspired to do the same.

Prior to working with philanthropists, Vanessa spent six years working as a stockbroker and specialist pensions adviser for a US brokerage firm.